Chicago Park District Commemorates Black History Month with Parks Named after Influential African Americans

1/31/2013

The Chicago Park District recognizes African Americans who have made important contributions to their communities and to the city at large by naming more than 40 parks in their honor. Click here to watch a video.

Features within parks have also been named such as:
- November 2012 dedication of the basketball courts at Fernwood Park, 10436 S. Wallace St., to McGlother “Mac” Irvin, the godfather of Chicago high school basketball.
- October 2011 dedication of a playground at Cole Park, 361 E. 85th St., after fallen Chicago police officer Thomas Wortham.
- February 2010 dedication of the Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs Gallery in the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., to the late Chicago Park District board commissioner.

Individuals must be deceased at least one year before a park can be named in their honor. Proposed names are brought to the Chicago Park District’s board of commissioners meeting for review. Upon approval of the board, the Chicago Park District posts a 45-day notice to solicit public input.

The following parks have been named for African Americans who have shaped Chicago’s legacy:

1. Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th St., is named after Robert Sengstacke Abbott. He was a journalist, businessman and founder of the Chicago Defender, one of the nation’s oldest African American newspapers.

2. Fred Anderson Park, 16th and Wabash Ave., is named after internationally acclaimed Chicago jazz musician and former owner of the Velvet Lounge Fred Anderson.

5. Ashe Beach Park, 2701 E. 74th St., commemorates Arthur Ashe, who ranked No. 1 in the world and won three of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He served as chairman of the Black Tennis and Sports Foundation and was active in creating inner-city youth tennis camps in Chicago.

6. Boler Park, 3601 W. Arthington St., is named after Leo Roscoe Boler, a former resident of North Lawndale who was active in many west side political and civic groups.

7. Arnita Young Boswell Park, 6644-48 S. University Ave., memorializes the social worker, educator and activist who founded Chicago’s League of Black Women.

11. Brown Memorial Park, 644 E. 86th St., is named after Sidney Brown, the first African American firefighter to die in the line of duty in Chicago.

12. Carver Park, 939 E. 132nd St., honors scientist George Washington Carver. Born to a slave mother, he moved to Alabama after obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees to direct the department of agriculture at Tuskegee Institute. His work with Tuskegee transformed agricultural production in the south and stimulated the region’s economy.

13. Cole Park, 361 E. 85th St., salutes pianist and singer Nat King Cole, who grew up in Chicago and went on to become one of the nation’s most popular singers. In 1957, he became the first African American to host his own weekly network television show.

14. Bessie Coleman Park, 5445 S. Drexel Ave., is named after the nation’s first African-American female pilot. She became the first African American to hold an international pilot license. Today, there is a group of African-American female pilots known as the Bessie Coleman Aviators Club.

16. Debow Park, 1126 E. 80th St., is named after Judge Russell R. DeBow, the first African American to hold an administrative position on the staff of the mayor of Chicago in 1965. In 1971, he was appointed Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

17. Lorraine L. Dixon Park, 8701-9159 S. Dauphin Ave., is named after the Chicago alderman who became the first woman to head the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

18. Dunbar Park, 200 E. 31st St., memorializes Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the nation’s first critically acclaimed African American authors. He self published his first book of poetry in 1893 and was invited to Chicago to recite his works at the World’s Columbian Exposition.

19. DuSable Park, 401 N. Lake Shore Drive, is named after Jean Baptiste du Sable, the first non-Native American settler of Chicago. A Haitian of French and African descent, he established a remote trading post near what is now Pioneer Court, just north of the river.

20. Lorraine Hansberry Park, 5635 S. Indiana Ave., is named after the author of the classic “A Raisin in the Sun.” In 1959, Hansberry became the youngest person and first African American to win the New York Drama Critic’s Circle Award for Best Play of the Year.

21. Ryan Harris Memorial Park, 6701-6859 S. Lowe Ave., in the Englewood community honors Ryan Harris who was tragically murdered at the age of 11. The Englewood community celebrates Harris’ life annually at the park on July 28.

22. Vivian Gordon Hash Park, 4458 S. Oakenwald, honors the librarian who established research collections related to African American history well before public awareness of the topic.

23. Houston Park, 5001 S. Cottage Grove Ave., commemorates Rev. Jessie "Ma" Houston. After overcoming a case of childhood paralysis, she settled in Chicago in her early 20s and began helping other disabled people. In addition to actively participating in the Civil Rights Movement, Houston was instrumental in prison reform and was the first woman allowed to serve as a minister to prisoners on death row in Illinois.

24. Mahalia Jackson Park, 8407 S. Kerfoot Ave., is named after the gospel singer who became famous throughout the world for her beautiful, warm contralto voice.

25. Nancy Jefferson Park, 3101 W. Fulton Boulevard, is named after a nurse, social worker and civic leader.

28. Leland Giants Park, 7526 S. Lowe Ave., memorializes the Leland Giants, an African-American baseball team that dominated the Chicago Baseball League and played at the intersection of 79th Street and Wentworth Avenue during the early 20th century.

29. King-Lockhart Park, 10609-15 S. Western Ave., is named in honor of firefighters Patrick King and Anthony Lockhart, the latter of whom was African American. Both lost their lives battling a fire at that site.

30. Mason Park, 4100 W. End Ave., is named after Elizabeth James Mason, a beloved Chicagoan who served as the West Garfield Park community’s first African-American crossing guard.

31. Metcalfe Park, 4196 S. State St., honors Ralph Metcalfe, an accomplished Olympic athlete who then entered politics and served as an Alderman and then a Congressman.

32. Donald Jordan Nash Community Center, 1833 E. 71st St., is named after a Chicago native who volunteered as a mentor and teacher. He became the first African American to serve as Vice President of Community and Governmental Affairs for Coca Cola Company.

33. Owens Park, 2100 E. 88th St., honors the world-renowned athlete Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics of 1936. He served as Director of the Chicago Boys Club, the Illinois State Athletic Commission and the Illinois Youth Commission.

35. Robichaux Park, 9247 S. Eggleston Ave., is named after Joseph J. Robichaux, a businessman and community organizer. He was executive director of the Baldwin Ice Cream Company, the first African-American owned ice cream producer in the country. He served as a Cook County Commissioner and participated in several charitable and civic organizations.

36. Robinson Park, 10540 S. Morgan St., is named for baseball great Jackie Robinson. He became the first African American to play major league baseball in 1947 when he was signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He went on to be voted “Rookie of the Year,” was named most valuable player and was elected to the 1962 Baseball Hall of Fame.

38. Robert Taylor Park, 41W. 47th St., is named after the urban planner who was first African American to chair the Chicago Housing Authority. After graduating in architecture from Howard University, he relocated to Chicago to build affordable homes for African Americans.

39. Mamie Till-Mobley Park, 6404-16 S. Ellis Ave., honors the woman who helped ignite the American Civil Rights Movement after her son Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955.

40. Dinah Washington Park, 8213-17 S. Euclid Ave., honors one of the most versatile and talented vocalists in America’s popular music history. She won a Grammy Award in 1959 for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance. In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a Dinah Washington stamp.

42. Williams - Davis Park, 4101 S. Lake Park Ave., honors Hattie Kay Williams and Izora Davis. Williams was a social worker and community activist who made important contributions to the civil rights movement, and committed herself to improving the lives of Chicago’s underprivileged and minority citizens. Davis was a community activist who fought tirelessly against the displacement of public housing residents.

43. White (Willye B.) Park, 1610 W. Howard St., is named after Willye B. White, a five-time Olympian who worked for the Chicago Park District.

44. Williams Park, 2710 S. Dearborn St., is named after Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who performed the world’s first successful open heart surgery in 1893.

The Chicago Park District is the largest municipal park manager in the nation and owner of more than 8,100 acres of green space. We invite you to take in a concert or a movie at one of our 580 parks, to expand your horizons by registering for one of our thousands of programs offered throughout our 260 field houses, to get a great workout indoors at one of our state-of-the-art fitness centers, or outdoors along Lake Michigan’s 26 miles of pristine lakefront, or enjoy nature with a peaceful visit.